Dodgers’ Title Hopes Hinge on Glasnow and Diaz Updates That Raise More Questions Than Answers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have built their season on depth, resilience, and a rotation that somehow keeps spinning despite injuries piling up like sand in a timer. But two key arms—Tyler Glasnow and Edwin Diaz—remain the biggest question marks hanging over the team’s World Series ambitions. The latest medical updates on both players, shared Tuesday by MLB.com, do little to calm the nerves in Chavez Ravine.

Diaz Could Return by July, but Nothing Is Guaranteed

Edwin Diaz, the electric closer acquired this offseason to lock down the ninth inning, hasn’t pitched since April after surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. The good news? He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week, marking his first serious step back toward game action. The team has indicated he could “possibly” return in July, though that timeline remains fluid.

What does that mean for the Dodgers? At best, they get their All-Star reliever back for the final two months of the regular season and the playoff push. At worst, every missed game increases the pressure on a bullpen that already has a thin margin for error. The front office is watching closely—because if Diaz isn’t right by late July, the trade deadline takes on a whole new urgency.

Glasnow’s Back Spasms Look Stubborn

Tyler Glasnow’s situation is arguably more concerning. The towering right-hander has been sidelined with back spasms, and according to the report, he has “made little progress” and is not currently throwing. The earliest possible return is mid-July, though the lack of momentum raises doubts about whether that date holds.

Glasnow was expected to be the stabilizing force behind Clayton Kershaw after the Dodgers traded for him at the deadline last summer. When healthy, his combination of elite fastball and wipeout curve makes him a frontline starter. But the back issue, which has flared up multiple times this season, now threatens to derail his availability for the stretch run.

The Dodgers have leaned heavily on their depth so far, and it’s worked—they entered Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays on a winning streak and with the best record in the National League. But pitching staffs are fragile in October, and Los Angeles knows it. Expect the team to be aggressive in trade talks for starting pitching if Glasnow’s timeline slips further.

What the Latest Updates Mean for L.A.’s Deadline Plans

These two injury updates combine to create one clear message: the Dodgers need reinforcements. Speculation about trade targets has already begun, with names like German Márquez and Lucas Giolito circulating among league insiders. If both Glasnow and Diaz are truly on track for mid-July returns, the Dodgers can be patient. But if either stalls, Andrew Friedman and company will have to pick up the phone sooner rather than later.

For now, the team keeps winning. Tuesday night, they took the field at Dodger Stadium for a rematch with the Rays, hoping to build on their 4-3 victory the night before. But the real game is being played in the training room and on the phone lines—because in a division as tough as the NL West, every week without your stars is a week you may not get back.